WAEC Literature in English 2016 Theory — Question 18

Model answer

The poem 'Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day?' is an appreciation of beauty. The beauty though transient, becomes eternal through the permanence of art (poetry). The poet compares the beauty of his lover to that of the summer's day. The summer's day is known to be beautiful and alluring. However, the poet is of the opinion that the beauty of his lover surpasses that of the summer. The lover is said to be 'more lovely and more temperate' than summer. Sometimes, summer's season goes through some vagaries and challenges. Such challenges include 'rough winds' that shake the 'darling buds of May'. The poet also opines that summer is seasonal; it comes and goes, but the beauty of his lover is timeless. Summer is also characterized by brightness produced by the activity of the sun. However, the sun 'in his gold complexion' gets 'dimmed'. Summer's beauty has its flaws but the beauty of the lover is flawless. Nothing in this life is eternal, beauty fades, nature changes but 'thy eternal summer shall not fade/ nor lose the possession of that fair thou ow'st.' The poet idolizes and appreciates the beauty of his lover with those lines. Although summer faces the challenge of time or summer is seasonal, the beauty of his lover is eternal. The poet continues to appreciate the beauty of his lover which shall never fade or die: 'Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade.' The fact remains that so far this beauty is etched in artistic lines: 'eternal lines', it will stand the test of time and men, and women from generations to come will continue to appreciate the beauty and of course, the poem gives life to his lover's beauty.